Rangers vs. Devils prediction: Odds, picks for Game 7
The New York Rangers faced elimination six times last postseason and went 5-1.
They were experts with their backs against the wall, relying on an opportunistic offense and an elite goaltender to provide a formula for winning do-or-die contests.
That recipe for success paid off again on Saturday night as the Blueshirts kept their season alive with a 5-2 win over the New Jersey Devils in Game 6.
The series now shifts back to Newark for Game 7 on Monday night. Will New York’s experience and goaltending advantage lead to another elimination game victory for this group?
Rangers vs. Devils Game 7 prediction
8:00 p.m. ET, ESPN and MSG Network
The first six games of this best-of-7 series have been all over the map.
The Rangers dominated the first two games to race out to a 2-0 lead, then the Devils clawed back with an overtime win in Game 3 before taking over in the next two contests.
New Jersey had a chance to put the Rangers to bed on Saturday night, but the Blueshirts wrestled control of that game from the Devils and never looked back.
It was a comprehensive victory, not unlike New York’s first two of the series.
There has been a pretty common theme in this series.
If the Devils play disciplined and manage the puck, they are too good at 5-on-5 for the Rangers.
But when New Jersey begins to color outside the lines and goes to the penalty box too often, the Rangers are able to run away and rely on Igor Shesterkin to make sure things stay tidy.
How the gamescript plays out remains to be seen, but it does seem that the betting market has more confidence in the Rangers compared to the beginning of the series.
Let’s compare the current odds for Game 7 against the three games that have taken place at the Prudential Center so far:
- Game 1: Devils -135/Rangers +115
- Game 2: Devils -135/Rangers +115
- Game 5: Devils -115/Rangers -105
- Game 7: Devils -115/Rangers -105
What’s interesting about the shift in sentiment is that Akira Schmid replaced Vitek Vanecek in goal after Game 2 and put up two terrific performances at Madison Square Garden, so you’d think that there would be more confidence in the Devils with an in-form Schmid in goal compared to a struggling Vanecek.
But the opposite was true and the line moved 20 cents ahead of Game 5.
Perhaps the market was too high on New Jersey coming into the series, but stylistically there are still some edges for the Devils in this contest.
They are the better 5-on-5 team and, so long as they manage the puck and game situation, should be able to carry play more than the Rangers in this contest.
The Blueshirts are experts at waiting teams out and pouncing on their opportunities, but the Devils have already shown a couple of times this series – including in backs-against-the-wall situations – that they can play with a cool head and not play into the Rangers’ hands.
There are logical reasons to back either side in this contest – it is priced as a coin flip, after all – but the Devils should be in control of this game as long as they stay disciplined.
In a 50/50 battle, I’ll back the better 5-on-5 team and hope that things stay on script.
Rangers vs. Devils Game 7 pick
New Jersey Devils -115 (BetMGM)
